CLINTON, Miss. --- The NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will serve as the keynote speaker at Mississippi College's Spring scholarship dinner on April 30.

The dinner at Anderson Hall on the Clinton campus begins at 6 p.m. that Tuesday. Earlier, Brees is expected to speak to students, and take questions from the media at a news conference.

From President Blake Thompson to students, the Blue & Gold family is thrilled to welcome the 2009 Super Bowl MVP-winner to the Baptist-affiliated university.

"New Orleans Saints fans and the Mississippi College family are thankful that future NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees will deliver the keynote address at MC's 2019 Spring scholarship dinner,'' Dr. Thompson said.

"We are pleased the Saints star quarterback will be part of an MC signature event that has raised more than $3.6 million for student scholarships since 2008,'' Thompson added.

"More important than his brilliant playing career, he has lived out a life of faith and hope in New Orleans. We look forward to his inspirational message to our Mississippi College community.''

Drew Brees becomes the latest in a lineup of distinguished Americans addressing the MC scholarship banquet. Notables include former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and magazine executive Steve Forbes. Former U.S. Senate

Majority Leader Bob Dole spoke at the inaugural Mississippi College event. Last year's program raised a record $470,400.

Athletic Director Mike Jones is elated No. 9 will visit MC Choctaws Country. "What an honor it will be to have such a high-caliber athlete and human being as Drew Brees to come to our campus.''

The Scholarship Dinner, Jones added, " will continue to pay great dividends for our university, especially with a sure-fire NFL Hall of Famer in Drew Brees serving as keynote speaker.''

There are strong Mississippi College links to the Saints. Former Choctaws football standout Fred McAfee is a member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. The Philadelphia, Mississippi native works for the Saints staff in the personnel office.

It's been an extraordinary 2018-19 season for Drew Brees and the Saints.

On October 8, 2018, Brees broke Peyton Manning's all-time passing record of 71,940 yards. In a 43-19 triumph over the Washington Redskins, Drew led his team with three touchdown passes for 363 yards. His heroics before a "Monday Night Football'' TV audience saw Brees boost his career mark to 499 touchdowns. He finished the game with 72,103 career yards that spans nearly 41 miles.

"It's hard for me not to reflect too much right now because my career's done,'' Brees told reporters. "There are still goals to be accomplished. There are still challenges to be met and I'm still focused on that.''

First drafted in 2001 by the San Diego Chargers, Drew Brees summed up his NFL career. "It's just been an unbelievable journey.''

This winter, the Saints lost their bid to return to the Super Bowl, suffering a painful overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Saints fans continue to express disappointment. An infamous "no-call'' by an NFL referee in the NFC championship crushed their Super Bowl dreams, critics say. Instant replays sparked a sea of complaints that pass interference should have been called late in the game.

An Austin, Texas native and former Purdue University football star, Drew Brees is devoted to serving people worldwide. Founded in 2003, the Brees Dream Foundation provides charitable funding to improve the quality of life for cancer patients. The organization offers care, education and opportunities for children as well as needy families. The foundation contributed in excess of $25 million to charitable causes globally. Support comes from individuals and corporations around the world.

Brees has participated in five USO trips to countries like Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Drew and his wife, Brittany, live in New Orleans with their four children.

After playing a few years for San Diego, Brees signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2006. Drew and his teammates delivered a memorable Super Bowl victory to lift the spirits of New Orleans following devastation by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

MC Choctaws head football coach John Bland is eager to welcome Drew Brees to the 2019 scholarship dinner. "This will be a great night for MC!''

Tickets cost $300 per person. Tables seating eight people will range from $2,000 to $5,000. A ticket deadline will be set at a later date. For more information, contact Amy Rowan at 601-925-3257 or Rowan@mc.edu.